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hiccup
[ hik-uhp, -uhp ]
noun
- a quick, involuntary inhalation that follows a spasm of the diaphragm and is suddenly checked by closure of the glottis, producing a short, relatively sharp sound.
- Usually hiccups. the condition of having such spasms:
She got the hiccups just as she began to speak.
- Informal. a minor difficulty, interruption, setback, etc.:
a hiccup in the stock market.
verb (used without object)
- to make the sound of a hiccup:
The motor hiccuped as it started.
- to have the hiccups.
- Informal. to experience a temporary decline, setback, interruption, etc.:
There was general alarm when the economy hiccuped.
hiccup
/ ˈɪʌ /
noun
- a spasm of the diaphragm producing a sudden breathing in followed by a closing of the glottis, resulting in a sharp sound Technical namesingultus
- the state or condition of having such spasms
- informal.a minor difficulty or problem
verb
- intr to make a hiccup or hiccups
- tr to utter with a hiccup or hiccups
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of hiccup1
Example Sentences
Mr Wood, who normally lives on the boat with his fiancée and two young children, encountered his first hiccup right at the beginning of his voyage.
Those career hiccups appeared to be on the top of Wallen's mind on Saturday, when he dropped by the show to hype his upcoming album, "I'm The Problem."
If your tax documents only include a W-2, mortgage interest and student loan interest, then you may be able to file your taxes yourself without any hiccups.
The vast majority went out as planned, with two glaring hiccups: the countywide false alert and the lack of alerts to Altadena neighborhoods on the west side of Lake Avenue.
The firefighter representatives worried that any hiccup in hiring would exacerbate long-running difficulties in recruiting employees to the U.S. agency.
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